Electrical outlet box with integral support leg

• US 5,833,110 A
• Filed: 08/23/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Rice, James, Chandler, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US08/703,600
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/3.92
• US Class Current: 220/3.9
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

An electrical outlet box which is mounted to a wall stud and having a support leg to prevent deflection of the box by abutment against a wall board attached to the stud. The electrical outlet box includes a back wall which is perimeterically bounded by an outer wall extending outwardly therefrom. The box includes a box interior for accommodating an electrical receptacle or similar component. The support leg is frangibly connected to the outlet box. The outlet box includes a slot adapted to receive the support leg upon frangible removal of the support leg from the outlet box. The support leg once installed in the slot provides a brace which prevents rotational movement of the outlet box.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box having a back wall perimeterically bounded by an outer wall extending outwardly therefrom defining a box interior for accommodating an electrical receptacle, said outer wall further defining an receptacle opening;

a support leg frangibly connected to said outlet box in an uninstalled position; and

said outlet box having a first aperture adapted to receive said support leg, such that upon removal of said support leg from said uninstalled position said support leg is movable in an installed position wherein said leg is insertable into said aperture thereby providing a brace for said outlet box.

2. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said support leg in said uninstalled position is integrally formed with said outlet box.

3. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said frangible connection between said box and said leg is formed by a bridge, said bridge being fracturable upon deflection of said leg thereby releasing said leg.

4. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said assembly is formed of molded plastic.

5. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a mounting flange extending from said outer wall for securing said outlet box to a wall stud.

6. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said first aperture is formed on said outer wall opposite said mounting flange.

7. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein an upper portion of said leg is supported in said first aperture and a lower portion of said leg extends rearwardly from said first aperture when said leg is in said installed position, said leg lower portion ending in a bearing surface which is abutable with a wall board secured to said wall stud in order to prevent rearward movement of said outlet box.

8. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said bearing surface of said leg is a foot portion which extends orthogonally to said direction of said leg extension.

9. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer wall includes a first and second side wall and a top and bottom wall forming a substantially rectangular outlet box.

10. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 9 further including a mounting flange extending from said first side wall for securing said outlet box to a wall stud.

11. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said mounting flange includes a plurality of second apertures extending therethrough to accommodate mounting hardware.

12. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said first aperture is formed on said second side wall of said outlet box.

13. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 12 further including at least one tab extending from said second side wall, said at least one tab providing means for restricting forward movement of said box.

14. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said second side wall includes two tabs.

15. An electrical outlet box assembly mountable to a wall stud positioned between a front and rear wall board comprising:

an outlet box having a back wall perimeterically bounded by an outer wall extending outwardly therefrom and defining a box interior for accommodating an electrical receptacle, said outer wall further defining an receptacle opening;

a mounting means for securing said box to said stud;

a support leg frangibly connected to said box in an uninstalled position, said leg being removable from said uninstalled position; and

a slot formed on said box and adapted to receive said support leg in an installed position, such that when said leg is in said installed position, said leg is engageable with said rear wall to prevent rearward movement of said box.

16. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said support leg in said uninstalled position is integrally formed with said outlet box.

17. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said frangible connection between said box and said leg is formed by a bridge having a reduced cross-sectional area, said bridge being fracturable adjacent said reduced cross-sectional area upon deflection of said leg thereby releasing said leg.

18. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said support leg includes an elongate member having a first and second end, said first end having a foot portion extending orthogonally from said member to provide a bearing surface for engagement with said rear wall, said second end being rounded to facilitate reception of said leg into said slot.

19. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said outer wall includes a first and second opposed side walls and a top and bottom walls forming a substantially rectangular outlet box, said slot being formed on said first side wall and said mounting flange being formed on said second side wall.

20. An electrical outlet box assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said slot is defined by a back wall having a pair of spaced side wall extending therefrom said slot side walls each having a portion extending over said back wall forming a slot space, said slot space being sized slightly smaller than said leg to form an interference fit between said slot and said leg.

21. An outlet box as defined in claim 19 further including at least one tab extending from said first side wall, said at least one tab being abatable with said front wall board for bracing said box and restricting forward movement thereof.